Keeping Up With Technology

Expandable PS/PE Now Has Smaller Beads

A new version of a four-year old expandable bead foam for packaging electronics has 25% smaller beads that are expected to expand its range of applications.

A new version of a four-year old expandable bead foam for packaging electronics has 25% smaller beads that are expected to expand its range of applications. The new Arcel 730 interpolymer (70% PS/30% PE) from Nova Chemicals Corp., Pittsburgh, has a bead size similar to EPS, enabling finer molding detail, thinner part walls, and reduced cushion thickness. Greater manufacturing efficiency through easier and faster mold fills and reduced molding scrap is also claimed. According to Nova, the smaller beads contain the same polymer and have the same properties as previous grades.